Doctorate Theses

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13057/6

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1 Corinthians 1-4: A Rhetorical and Social Analysis and its Evaluation from a Korean-Confucian Christian Context
(2009-05-08) Kwon, Oh-Young
This thesis investigates 1 Corinthians 1-4 and argues that a divisive culture of rhetorical and patronal elitism lies behind the schisms identified by Paul. Further, that this culture was influenced by Greco-Roman wisdom literature. Pauline critique of Roman wisdom traditions shapes a critical reflection on similar dynamics amongst 21st Century Korean Christians.
Contesting public transcripts in Biblical studies: an adventure with Zacchaeus
(2016-01) Storie, Deborah
This thesis investigates interpretive approaches that facilitate responsible readings. Part One explores the worlds behind the text. Part Two examines the worlds of, and in front of, the text. It offers a first-person reading of Luke 19.1-27, surveys pertinent schloarship, and proposes strategies to nurture cultures of transformative reading.
Cosmology and the Cosmic Journey in the Book of Revelation: The Experience of Story-Space and Conflicting Visions of Reality
(2021) Rothman, Joel
Revelation draws the hearer into its story-space, a four-layered cosmos of hyper-heaven, sky-heaven, earth, and abyssal depths. The spatial construction has ideological import: in the conflicted sky-heaven empire is exposed as draconian, thus demanding nonparticipation in its social and economic practices, while the transformative hyper-heaven makes nonparticipation a genuine option.
Did God not choose the poor? (Jas 2:5): A Preferential Option
(2024-02-15) 'Sullivan, Jeanette M.'
Compelled by a question that commands an affirmative response (Jas 2:5), the Letter of James has an important contribution to make to Catholic social teaching on the preferential option for the poor. Within this teaching, Leo XIII’s (1878–1903) 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum declares an option for the poor, but its expression in terms of preference did not take root until the papacy of John XXIII (1958–1963) when, just prior to Vatican II, he decreed the Church to be the Church of the poor. In the 1960s and 1970s, the preferential option for the poor was embraced by Latin American liberation theology and the Latin American Episcopal Conferences (CELAM). A dialogue with the Vatican opened up and continues today in the teaching of Pope Francis (2013– ). In this respect, the Letter of James has much to offer Catholic social teaching on the preferential option for the poor.
Divine and Roman Warriors: The Roman Imperial Cuirass in 1 Thessalonians 5:1–10
(2020) Janssen, David
This thesis adopts Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation to explore the impact of Paul’s use of armour language in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. The approach examines the interaction of visual, cultural and written texts (‘textures’) related to the discourse of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–10. Specific consideration is given to the blending of imagery from Roman Imperial cuirass breastplate statue types and the Divine Warrior motif. The thesis contends that, rather than emphasising eschatological alertness or readiness for cosmic battle, Paul’s transposition of these figures informs the identity and behaviour of the implied audience in a civic context where clear tensions are emerging because of their faithful response to Christ.
Early Christian Readings of Paul on Moral Regeneration
(2022) Rowse, Paul
Since God judges everyone according to their deeds, Paul regards the cultivation of moral conduct as a crucial task. Responding to the scholarly deadlock on whether believers’ ethical capacities are themselves regenerated or simply overlaid with divine power and otherwise unchanged, we engage with Romans 6:1-14 and its direct citations up to the death of Origen, where direct citations are identified by an attribution signal and literality. We ask whether moral regeneration is present in the early readings of Romans 6:1-14. Irenaeus’ three citations argue for the unity of Christ, the salvageability of the flesh, and a distinction between fleshly deeds and the flesh itself. Understanding the Spirit as formative of those whom he indwells, Irenaeus cites Romans 6:4 in order to demonstrate believers’ moral regeneration if they continue in the Spirit. Clement of Alexandria’s four citations are proof-texts against the Basilideans and the Valentinians. Clement’s Apostle signals believers’ exoneration for involuntary misdeeds because he says that they are “under grace”. Tertullian adapts two extended citations to his sympathetic audience in order to argue for the salvageability of the flesh and for the exclusion of recidivist baptized adulterers from the Church. Tertullian’s Apostle expects that all wrongdoing comes to an end with baptism. Origen adopts a voluntarist hermeneutic in his Commentary on Romans against opponents who promoted moral determinism. Thus, we find his strong witness to personal responsibility for moral action. His Commentary also contains his deduction from Romans 6:12 that the desires of the Spirit overlay the desires of sin, which believers still have. Origen’s other works contain proof-texts from our passage which display symbolic readings of “sin” and moral degeneration in recidivists; these too mainly make the case for personal responsibility. Thus, Clement, Tertullian, and Origen witness to perspectival renewal, and Irenaeus and Origen also to moral regeneration.
Escorting Paul and the Other Emissaries of Jesus in Acts: The Significance of the Motif of Escort, Seen through the Lens of a Late First- (Early Second-) Century Mediterranean Cultural Script for Hospitality Conventions
(2016-02) Spalding, Dean
The motif of escort features in many Lukan hospitality scenes, but, heretofore, escort has escaped scholarly attention. In the Book of Acts, Paul, an emissary of Jesus, is often the subject of escorted arrival and escorted departure. This thesis aims to study the motif of escort in Acts in the light of the motif’s appearance in Jewish and Greco-Roman literature. Retrieval of this background enables the establishment of a cultural script, particularly with respect to a shared understanding of the significance of escorted arrivals and escorted departures in the context of a wider framing of hospitality. The thesis then undertakes a narrative and syn¬chronic reading of Luke’s escort-material in the Gospel and Acts from the perspective of the implied reader who interprets the text through the lens of this cultural script. Finally, the thesis explores the significance of its findings in relation to contentious issues in contemporary Acts scholarship.
Joining the Conversation: An Exegetical Approach to Ascertaining Contextual Meanings for Low-Frequency Lexemes in the Peshitta Gospels as a Proposal to Benefit the Lexicography of the New Testament
(2015) Lewis, Tim
The thesis seeks to ascertain contextual meanings for several low-frequency lexemes in the Peshitta Gospels. It proposes that intratextual exegesis can benefit lexicography, especially in cases where meanings given in current lexicons are unclear in regards to the contexts upon which such meanings are based. An exegetical methodology is developed that defers the study of social backgrounds and instead prioritises narrative context for examining Gospel lexemes. The thesis grew from an evaluation of the ‘convulsive’ meaning given in KPG for the Peal of ܚܒܛ (Mk: 9:18, 20). Twelve low-frequency Syriac lexemes are examined: ܢܳܪܓܳܐ (Mt 3:10//Lk 3:9); ܝܘܽܕ (Mt 5:18); ܣܶܪܛܳܐ (Mt 5:18); ܩܰܛܺܝܢܳܐ (Mt 7:14); ܢܶܩܥܳܐ (Mt 8:20//Lk 9:58); ܡܶܕܪܳܐ (Mt 13:5); Peal of ܫܘܚ (Mt 13:5); Peal of ܥܨܒ (Lk 10:34); Peal of ܚܒܛ (Mk: 9:18, 20); Ethpaal of ܒܥܩ (Mk 9:20); Peal of ܫܚܩ (Mk 9:26; Lk 9:39); and Pael of ܡܥܣ (Lk 9:42).
“Other boats were with him” (Mk 4:36). The radical inclusivity of the Samoan motu o tagata reading of Mark.
(2022-10) 'Saga, Visesio.'
This thesis explores a radically inclusive understanding of the Greek ochlos (‘crowd’) and other characters in Mark’s Gospel. The Samoan translation, motu o tagata, promotes this inclusivity which is qualified only by some opposition to Jesus. Even so, these failures are overturned by the open call for all to repent and faithfully engage the Goodnews.
Overcoming Resistance: The Holy Spirit as Legitimator of Mission in Luke-Acts
(2019) Otobo, Francis
This thesis argues that the Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts functions to legitimate the mission to the Gentiles for Jewish followers of Jesus, both those resisting and those open to the world-wide mission. At the same time, Luke connects with Greco-Roman pneumatic experiences to encourage Gentile believers in their acceptance of the faith. Using a narrative approach together with careful exegesis of selected texts, I show that the Spirit is used to address the challenges of ethnic diversity in the implied audience of the Lukan communities — for both the resisting Jewish Christian reader and those from diverse ethnic backgrounds. In so doing, I argue that the presence of the Spirit at key points of the narrative in both the Lukan Gospel and Acts legitimates the mission to the ethnē in contexts where there is ongoing resistance, both for those resisting and those who are being attracted by the signs of the Spirit.
Priestly Christology and the Gospel of Mark
(2009-05-08) Cheeseman, Mark
The Christology of the Gospel of Mark incorporates a priestly dimension. This has often been neglected due to a bias against priests and a lack of appreciation of the significance of priestly messianism in second temple Judaism. As an investigation into messianic expectations illustrates, there was a substantial ongoing tradition of messianic expectation on which to draw by the first century C.E. Jesus' cleansing of the leper and healing of the paralytic portray him functioning as a priestly figure, first taking the place of the priest in purifying the leper, then functioning as a priestly messianic agent in mediating divine forgiveness. Jesus' time in Jerusalem portrays him as appropriating the role of the existing priesthood as national leaders and teachers. Subsequently, Jesus' appearance before the high priest portrays a stand-off between the existing high priest and Jesus, who claims the high priest's authority.
Reading Revelation as Drama: Reading and Interpreting Revelation through the lens of Greco-Roman Performance
(2018-01) Low, U-Wen
This thesis argues for a reading of Revelation alongside Greco-Roman dramatic performance through three lenses: visual exegesis, performance criticism, and a postcolonial mindset. This approach demonstrates that Revelation satirizes Roman imperial society whilst providing encouragement to its audience. This approach provides a framework for better understanding the text’s allusions and imagery.
Reading the Kingdom Teaching of Matthew from the Context of Myanmar
(2009-05-08) Dah, Ner
Following an analysis of the sectarian tensions within the Matthean community, and the polemics that the Gospel writer employs in response to those tensions, this thesis explores the socio-political context of Myanmar, and illustrates how Jesus’ Kingdom teaching in Matthew’s Gospel is similarly applicable to the persecuted Myanmar Christian community.
Rethinking the Acceptable Year: The Jubilee and the Basileia in Luke 4 and Beyond
(2019) Luthy, Christopher
This dissertation questions the presence of alleged Jubilary motifs in Luke-Acts and argues that such features are better understood within the broader and more explicit tradition of the Basileia of God. Particular attention is given to the Nazareth Pericope (Luke 4:14-30).
The Scandal of the Scandal of Particularity: An Exploration of Early Church Understandings of Jesus as the Female Divine
(2015-02) Douglas, Sally
Jesus’ status inflames debate. Central to debate is whether Jesus uniquely embodies the divine: thus “scandal of particularity”. Both those who affirm and those who reject this “scandal” regularly eclipse a central proclamation of who Jesus is in many earliest christologies. The scandal of the scandal of particularity is that in various Second Testament and early church texts Jesus is understood as the female divine. Insufficient attention has been devoted to why this is so. Through interdisciplinary research across biblical studies and systematic theology this thesis demonstrates that in the early Jesus movement Wisdom christology and Wisdom soteriology were ignited by collective experiences of “kinesthetic transformation”. The multivalent motivations for the eclipsing of Jesus-Woman Wisdom in the second and third centuries are excavated. The potential implications of this ancient understanding in contemporary context are assessed and it is demonstrated that this scandalous particularity continues to shimmer with vitality and provocation.
Suffering in Romans
(2013-09-16) Wu, Siu Fung
Suffering is a significant theme in Romans 5:1–11 and 8:17, 18–39. Although it is not the main message of the letter, its importance for the argument in 5:1–8:39 cannot be ignored. The thesis explores the theology of suffering in this section of Romans. It proposes that Romans 5–8 describes how God has created a new humanity out of Adamic humanity. The vocation of this new humanity is to participate in Christ’s suffering, with the purpose that they may be glorified with him. Indeed, their identification with Christ’s suffering is an integral part of God’s project of transforming humanity and renewing creation. It is in their faithful suffering that Christ-followers participate in God’s triumph over evil.
Testing Neirynck’s list of minor agreements: A critical reflection on A Source Critical Edition of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in Greek and English.
(2013-05) Monaghan, Chris
This thesis reflects critically on the candidate’s published work A Source Critical Edition of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in Greek and English (Subsidia Biblica 40), 2 vols., Rome, Gregorian and Biblical Press, 2010, with a particular focus on its identification and treatment of the minor agreements between Matthew and Luke. The first section surveys the scholarly study of the minor agreements. The second examines in particular the role played by textual assimilation, ancient compositional practices, and the oral tradition in the formation of agreements. The third section evaluates the candidate’s published work against Frans Neirynck’s list of significant minor agreements in The Minor Agreements in a Horizontal-Line Synopsis (Studiorum Novi Testamentum Auxilia, XIII), Leuven, Leuven University Press, Peeters, 1988. This carefully compiled list of minor agreements is then used so that the work of the candidate is further tested against the work of a number of scholars representing different source critical positions. Particular attention is paid to the work of Andreas Ennulat, Die “Minor Agreements”: Untersuchung zu einer offenen Frage des synoptischen Problems (WUNT, II/62), Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 1994. This section concludes with an examination of the role that oral tradition may have played in the formation of a number of the striking agreements in Neirynck’s list. Extensive appendices are provided: i) indicating where the candidate’s work needs correction, ii) examining Neirynck’s list from a number of source critical perspectives, and iii) exploring the range of variation and convergence in the minor agreements listed by Neirynck. The thesis argues that the predominately literary paradigm used to explain the minor agreements needs to be modified to take into account recent work on ancient compositional practices, including the roles played by short and long-term memory, paraphrase, and the on-going impact of oral traditions.
The Heavenly Canopy: A Reader-Response Approach to Matthew's Infancy Narrative from the Tribal Context of North East India.
(2012-05-03) Angami, Zhodi
In this study, I employ contextual reader-response criticism to read Matthew’s infancy narrative from the perspective of tribal communities of North East India. Insights from historical-critical approaches, postcolonial hermeneutics, and contextual readings of marginal and minority communities are also incorporated. The purpose is to provide an interpretation of the narrative that makes sense to the tribals by reading it with tribal concerns, sensitive to the spirituality, the culture, and the social and political experiences of the tribal people. The tribal interpretation of Matthew’s infancy narrative presented in this study arises from a conversation between tribal context and the context of the text. Dividing Matthew 1-2 into four segments, I explore the historical and literary nuances of each section, giving particular attention to the perspective from which a tribal reader might approach the narrative. The tribal perspective articulated here takes its interpretive clue from the tribal political context of military occupation, which is analogous to Matthew’s setting of Roman imperial rule. Juxtaposing tribal experiences of political subjugation with that of Matthew’s narrative world, a tribal reader is inclined to see Matthew’s text as a counter-narrative, resisting imperial occupation and oppression. Another influence on interpretation comes from the tribal experience of being at the margins – socially, politically, and academically. Consequently, tribal reading of the narrative is sympathetic towards those who are on the edges of the socio-religious narrative rather than those at the centre. Besides these contextual perspectives, various aspects of tribal worldview are interwoven into the analysis. Reading in context vindicates tribal experiences and inspires hope for redemption out of oppression, discrimination, and alienation. The value of this study is that it offers an alternative way of reading biblical narrative for tribal communities of the region, espousing reading through the optic of the oppressed rather than the oppressor.
The New Song, the New Creation and the New City: The Missional Perspective of Revelation
(2020-06) Deane, John
The thesis uses a missional lens to interpret Revelation and bring it into dialogue with contemporary missiology, represented by the World Council of Churches’ Affirmation, Together toward Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes. It argues that ‘mission’ needs to be reoriented around two questions, What is perceived as the divine purpose for God’s people? and, What is the expected response from God’s people? These questions and the dialogue are developed by adapting the six constants methodology of Bevans and Schroeder. The pastoral concerns of Revelation, apparent in the rescripts to seven churches (Rev 2-3), fall into four areas – authority, soteriology, identity (ethnos), and conduct (ethos). The redefined missional perspective addresses these concerns: 4.1-5.14 introduces the ‘new song’; at 7.1-17 and 14.1-15.4 the ‘new song’ finds expression in issues of ethnos and ethos; and at 21.1-22.5 the ‘new creation’ and ‘new city’ provide resolution of the key questions explicating mission.

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